Building block



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. Enos fl; SZewarl' BY fie W A TTORN E YS.

E. A. STEWART BUILDING BLOCK Fig.5

June 26, 195] Filed Feb. 19, 1946 June 26, 1951 E. A. STEWART 2,558,630

BUILDING BLOCK Filed Feb. 19, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

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Patenteci June 26, 195 1 TES OFFICE BUILDING BLOCK Enos A. Stewart, Canton, Ohio, assignor to John H. Stewart, Canton, Ohio Application February 19, 1946, Serial No. 648,594

The invention relates to building blocks and more particularly to a type of building block or brick so constructed that the blocks may be built into a wall without first applying mortar or other bond between adjacent courses of the blocks, mortar of proper consistency being poured or forced under pressure into the wall to bond the blocks together in a, solid structure after the wall or a portion thereof has been assembled.

It is an object of the invention to provide a building block or brick having suitable transverse openings therethrough communicating with horizontal grooves whereby a plurality of the blocks may be stacked in proper relation to each other to form a wall after which mortar is forced under pressure into the vertical openings in the blocks and through the horizontal grooves therein to bond the blocks together in an integral wall.

Another object is to provide a building block of this character in which vertical grooves are formed in the ends of the blocks communicating with the horizontal grooves so as to provide a bond between adjacent blocks in each course.

Still another object is to provide a building block of the general character referred to having a longitudinal rib or projection upon its upper face and a longitudinal groove in its lower face,

the grooves being of suitable width to receive the projection of a next adjacent lower block but preferably of greater depth than the projection or rib so as to form a horizontal mortar space between the blocks communicating with the vertical openings through the blocks, so positioned that when a plurality of the blocks are built up into a wall the vertical openings in the blocks will register with similar openings in the blocks in courses above and below so as to provide vertical openings throughout the entire height of the wall.

A further object is to provide a block of this character in which a longitudinal groove is provided in the projection or rib at the top of each block so as to increase the mortar space between courses of the blocks when built up into a wall.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a building block in which longitudinal grooves are provided in the upper and lower sur- 2 Claims. (Cl. 72--29) mortar joint, or to providea space into which mortar may be inserted from the exterior of the completed wall if desired.

A further object is to provide a building block of the character described in which a longitudinal groove is provided in the projection or rib at the top of each block and a longitudinal rib is provided within the groove at the bottom of each block adapted to be received into the groove at the top of the next lower block.

The above objects, together with others which will be apparent from the drawings and following description or which may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved building block in the manner hereinafter described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure l is a top plan view of a building block embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 an end elevation of the building block shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 a side elevation of the building block shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 an end elevation of a slightly modified form of the building block in which the longitudinal rib is eliminated from the groove in the bottom of the block;

Fig. 5 a side elevation of another modification of the building block;

Fig. 6 an end view of the type of block shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 a top plan view of another modification of the improved building block;

Fig. 8 an end elevation of the type of block shown in Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 a side elevation of the type of block shown in Figs. '7 and 8;

Fig. 10 a. fragmentary, transverse sectional view through a portion of a wall constructed of buildfaces of each block so as to form a mortar space between courses of the block's.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a, block having longitudinal grooves at its upper and lower surfaces, the longitudinal projection on the top of each block being of greater height than the groove in the bottom of;

the block so as to space the side edges of the blocks apart to give the appearance of a raised ing blocks of the general type shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but showing a slight modification;

Fig. 11 a view similar to Fig. 10 showing the manner in which the type of block shown in Fig. 4 is built up into a wall;

Fig. 12 a similar view showing a portion of a wall built up of blocks somewhat similar to the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 13 a similar view showing a portion of a wall built of another modified form of building block; 7

Fig. 14 a similar view showing a portion of a wall built up of blocks shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, and;

Fig. 15 a fragmentary, vertical, longitudinal, sectional view on a smaller scale through a porin the proportions of ordinary building bricks merely for the purpose of illustration.

Referring first to the particular form :of the block shown in Fig. l, a horizontal rib or projection 20 is formed upon the top "of each'block and a centrally located longitudinal groove 21, preferably half round as shown, isformedin the top surface of this projection or rib.

A groove 22 of the same width as the rib or projection 26, but of somewhat greater depth, extends longitudinally through the lower side of the block and a centrally located longitudinal rib 23, substantially conforming in cross sectional shape to the groove 2i, is located within the groove 22.

Vertical openings 25 are formed entirely through the block, these openings being so located that when the blocks are laid up in a wall in customary manner, each of the openings 2% will register with similar openings in the blocks above and below so that a series of vertical openings'a're provided entirely through the wall from top to bottom thereof.

Each end face 25 of the block is preferably provided with the vertical groove 26 extending from the top to the bottom thereof. The identical side faces El of the block may be fiat as shown inthe drawings.

In Fig. l is shown the end face of a slightly modified form of block having the longitudinal projection 29a upon its top provided with the longitudinal half-round groove 21a therein and with the longitudinal flat groove 22a in its lower face and the vertical openings 25a therethrough and vertical grooves 25a in the ends thereof, all as above illustrated and described, this block being the same as that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 with the -half-round rib 23 eliminated from the bottom groove.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the longitudinal rib or groove 2flbis formed upon the top of the block and the longitudinal groove 22b in the bottom thereof, both of the sanieheight and width as above described and illustrated. The vertical openings 2% are provided through the block from top to bottom thereof as above described and the vertical grooves fifth are formed in the end faces 2% thereof.

In these :figures of the drawings is shown a modification which may be incorporated in the form's'of the block shown in Figs. 1 to 4, namely longitudinal'grooves or recesses 28 and 29 formed in the upper and lower edges respectively of the side walls'i'lb of the block, these grooves or recesses beihg preferably dove-tailed as shown .in Fig. 6 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Anothermodification of the block is shown in Figs. '7, 8 and 9 in which the longitudinal rib or projection 250 at the top of the block is of considerably greater depth than the longitudinal groove 22c in the lower face thereof and in which rounded longitudinal grooves 3i} and 3: respec-- tive'ly are formed in the rib 29c and bottom groove 220. The vertical openings 250 are as above described and the vertical grooves 26c are formed in the end faces 250 in the manner above described. 7

In building a wall of the improved building blocks, it is not necessary to apply mortar between courses of the blocks as they are laid up in the wall as in usual practice. The blocks are merely stacked in proper position, one course upon another, with the vertical openings 24, 24a, 2 or 24c as the case may be, registering so that vertical openings are provided entirely through the wall from top to bottom. N To illustrate the manner in which a Wall is built of the improved blocks, in Fig. 15 is shown a portion'of a wall in the process of building, the

particular type of block shown in this figure being the block shown in Fig. 4. It will be seen that the vertical openings 24a through the blocks in the different courses register with each other so as to provide continuous vertical openings entirely through the wall from top to bottom thereof.

It will also be seen that the vertical grooves or recesses 28a in the end faces of adjacent blocks in each course will register forming a vertical opening which communicates at its upper and lower ends with the longitudinal spaces '32 formed between courses of the blocks due to the ribs Eda being of less depth than the grooves 22a.

Also as shown in Figs. ii and i5 itis seen that the grooves 2m in the top-of the blocks enlarge the longitudinal center of the space 32. In building a wall of these blocks, after several courses of the blocks are laid up, metal rods 33 may be located through the aligned openings Z ta in the several courses and mortar or other suitable bonding material of proper consistency is poured or forced down into these aligned openings Ma under pressure, as indicated at 35, the mortar flowing through the horizontal spaces 32 and the vertical spaces 25a, as shown at 36 and 3 respectively, bonding all of the blocks in each course together and bonding the several courses together, all as shown in the lower half of Fig. 15.

Several more courses of blocks may then be laid up in the same manner as shown in the upper half "of Fig. 15 and rods 3?. located through the aligned openings in the bloc'lzs, the adjacent ends of the rods 33 in each vertical series of openings 26a overlapping or being connected together as by eyes or loops 3 1 upon one end ofeach rod into which the adjacent end of the next rod is received.

When this is accomplished, mortar is then poured or forced downward into the vertical openings 24a of these upper courses of blocks,- in the same manner as above described and the wall is built up and completed in this manner, all of the blocks being firmly bonded together producing a solid wall structure.

As above pointed out in the description of Figs. 5 and 6, the longitudinal corner grooves 28 and 29 may be provided at the upper and lower edges of each side face of any of the specific forms of blocks illustrated. In Fig. 10 these longitudinal corner grooves are shown upon a slight modification of the general type of block illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. It will be seen that when the blocks are built up in a wall, the upper and lower corner grooves at the meeting edges of the blocks form dove-tailed grooves, which may be left open to give the appearance of a raked mortar joint if desired, or which may be filled with mortar Or the like as indicated'at 38.

Itshould be pointed out that Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, transverse, sectional view through a portion of a wall in which the section is taken through the vertical openings 24, while in each of Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14, the section is taken transversely through the wall at a point spaced from the vertical openings.

In Fig. 12 is shown a portion of a wall built up of the type of block shown in Fig. 5 but without the longitudinal corner grooves 28 and 29. This structure is the same as described in detail regarding the structure of Fig. 11 excepting that the longitudinal mortar spaces 36 between courses of the blocks are flat throughout their cross section and not provided with the thickened central portion produced by the grooves 2la in Fig. 11.

In Fig. 14 is shown a portion of a wall con structed of the modified form of block shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. In using this form of block it will be seen that the concaved upper and lower horizontal grooves 30 and 3| respectively of adjacent courses form a substantially elliptical horizontal mortar joint 36a between adjacent courses of the block.

It will also be seen that the rib 200 at the top of each block, but of considerably greater height than the groove 220 in the bottom thereof, produces longitudinal spaces 39 between courses giving the appearance of a raked mortar joint, or if .desired, these longitudinal grooves 39 may be filled with mortar to give the appearance of ordinary mortar joints.

In Fig. 13 is shown another slight modification of the block which may be the same as shown in Fig. 4 with the addition of a substantially half-round longitudinal groove 40 in the bottom groove 22a of each block arranged to register with the groove Zla in the rib a at the top of the next lower block so as to produce an enlarged central portion 41 through the horizontal mortar space 36.

Where it is desired to provide drainage passages vertically entirely through a wall from top to bottom, certain of the vertical openings 24, 24a, 241) or 240 may be left open entirely through the height of the wall instead of filling them with mortar or the like under pressure, and any suitable drainage outlets may be provided at the lower ends thereof to carry off moisture drained down through the openings.

From the above it, will be obvious that with the use of the improved blocks a masonry wall may be economically built as the blocks may be very quickly placed in position until a desired height is attained when the reinforcing rods and mortar may be quickly inserted as above described and the wall built to a greater height and this operation completed until the desired height of wall is built.

It should be understood that specially shaped headers and quoins formed to interfit with the improved blocks may be provided as illustrated and described in detail in the application of John H. Stewart for Building Bricks, executed February 5, 1946.

The upper and lower meeting edges of the blocks may be ground or otherwise trued so that they will fit tightly together, this being especially desirable for inside walls.

A wall built in the manner described will not only have greater strength but will be absolutely dry as there will be a continuous bond of mortar throughout the interior of the wall bonding the blocks together in each course and bonding the several courses together, forming a barrier to prevent moisture from passing through the wall from the outside to the inner side thereof.

I claim:

1. A building block having a longitudinal rib upon its upper side, said rib being of a width only slightly less than the width of the block and having a substantially flat, horizontal top surface provided with a central longitudinal groove therein, there being a longitudinal recess with a central longitudinal groove in the bottom thereof in the lower side of the block, the recess being of greater depth than the height of the rib and otherwise corresponding in shape to said rib, said last-named groove being substantially in a vertical plane common with the first-named groove, said recess being arranged to receive the rib on the upper side of a similar block so as to form a wide flat longitudinal mortar space of slightly less width than the block with a central longitudinal enlarged portion formed partly in the top and partly in the bottom of the block, and the block having a vertical opening therethrough communicating at its upper and lower ends with intermediate portions of said central longitudinal grooves for the purpose of providing an internal mortar space entirely within the outline of the block.

2. Wall construction comprising superposed similar building blocks, each block having a longitudinal rib upon its upper side, said rib being of a width only slightly less than the width of the block and having a substantially flat horizontal top surface provided with a central longitudinal groove therein, there being a longitudinal recess with a central longitudinal groove in the bottom thereof in the lower side of the block, the recess being of greater depth than the height of the rib and otherwise corresponding in shape to said rib, and said last-named groove being substantially in a vertical plane common with the firstnamed groove, the recesses of the blocks receiving the ribs of the blocks below, the bottoms of the recesses being spaced from the tops of the ribs of superposed blocks forming wide, fiat, longitudinal mortar spaces therebetween of slightly less width than the blocks, there being vertical openings in the blocks communicating with said longitudinal grooves, and mortar filling said vertical openings, longitudinal grooves and mortar spaces, all of said mortar being entirely within the wall to provide a dry wall with tight joints.

ENOS A. STEWART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,171,191 Gronert et a1. Feb. 8, 1916 1,282,090 Lemme Oct. 22, 1918 1,503,931 Wightman Aug. 5, 1924 1,545,173 Trost July 7, 1925 1,588,332 Peters June 8, 1926 2,102,447 Whitacre Dec. 14, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 24,969 Great Britain 1905 212,828 Great Britain 1924 182,312 Switzerland 1936 

